OpenOffice behaving strangely, file filled with ####

[Canna W]

Hi, I would be most grateful for some help.

First of all I couldn't get into any of my Open Office documents. I tried opening the task manager and deleting all the open office files I saw open there (that usually does the trick), but this time it didn't. Then I finally opened a document, which looked like this, rather than having the normal text I was expecting. This must be a corrupted file.



In order for the above to open I got a dialogue box saying "Welcome to Open Office 4.1.7" Then asking me for my Christian name, my surname, and my initials.

I then tried opening other Open Office documents, and this time they were fine.

Twice now Windows has shut down my computer, and said I was to report "Cache Manager" to person responsible for my computer. Not sure if that is at all relevant.

I think I should now just delete the corrupted file, carry on as though nothing has happened, and hope for the best. I thought I would post about the issue here though, just in case I'm doing something wrong. I'm afraid I am dreadfully ignorant with computers.

[RoryOF]

Previous experience tells that your file will be utterly corrupt. Try the methods in this post, as soon as possible, in the hope of recovering part or all of it.

The damage is possibly due to over-hasty power-off of computer or closure of laptop lid, before the file housekeeping has been written to disk, or to computer or program crash. Do not let your computer sleep/hibernate with a document open. When you have formally closed down the computer, wait five or ten seconds before pulling the power lead or closing the laptop lid, to allow the internal buffers of the hard drive flush to disk

As soon as possible try the methods in this tutorial
See [Tutorial] How to find and un-delete AOO temporary files for detailed instructions on how to

a) use Previous Versions (W7 and later) to recover previous versions of the file (is there something similar on MacOS and Linux?);

b) recover your file as it was when you last opened or saved it, or as it was when it was last saved with AutoRecovery;

c) find previous versions of the file in the folder it is located in, but which have since been deleted;

d) un-delete the temporary files AOO wrote while you were editing the file, and then deleted. This will recover your file as it was when you last opened or you last saved it.

There will be nothing usable in your damaged file - waste no time with it. Try the recovery methods above.

If you have backup copies (why not?) you should use them.

[Canna W]

Hi RoryOF, thank you so much for those suggestions! It never crossed my mind, but I do regular monthly backups of my files, onto two discs, which I rotate. I will have an intact version of the corrupted file - I shall copy that.

I use a desktop computer, and yes, sometimes I do instruct it to close down even when something is open. I won't be doing that again.

Once again, thank you so much for your help, it is much appreciated.

[Bill]

Twice now Windows has shut down my computer, and said I was to report "Cache Manager" to person responsible for my computer. Not sure if that is at all relevant.

Search for the error message using Google or some other Internet search tool. The one answer I read said that lack of System Memory is the most common cause.